Power Steering Pump Pump Noise

[katman96]

I recently replaced the power steering pump on my 98 Windstar, as the seal was leaking. I purged out all the old fluid by removing the return line and letting the supply line dump into a bucket while I added new fluid. My problem now is that the power steering pump is exremely loud. Loud whining especially when turning, the old pump was perefectly quiet. I had the front wheels jacked up and moved them from lock to lock as I was refilling but the noise is still there. I used PS fluid not atf fluid, would that do it? Any other suggestions? Thanks in advance

[tripletdaddy]

I kind of doubt that the fluid you used is the problem. Most available fluids are upgrades of previous fluids, like motor oils used to have a SD,SE,SF,SG ratings, they are up to SL maybe now, I've lost count. So for instance you can use the latest oil in say your '86 with no fear even though it called for SC,SD oil that was the most up to date twenty years ago. Actually you are better off to use a newer version because it is better than the older one. I'm pretty sure your van has the same ps as my 95 van and most likely my 95 taurus and quite possibly my'86 Escort. Yup, they all look the same, sound the same, AND have the same EXACT Ford spec, requiremed fluid ESW-M2C33-F and I also saw that there is such a thing as type F power steering fluid, that also meets that requirement. Now using atf type F fluyid will meet the ford req for your ps, but looking at a store brand bottle of psf, it sasy it meets the most recent Ford spec, exceeding the old spec on your vehicle Every time I look up what to put in the ps pump, they title it Power Steering Fluid, but list an atf or ps fluid meeting a particular spec. It used to be that all that was availble was type f atf, but now it seems the line between atf and psf is becoming more and more
blurred.

Ok enough on the fluid. That noise, are you certain that nothing is interfering with it spinning or something else? Do you know that you have bled all the air out? Good and topped off? Do you see foaming, an indication of trapped air? Does it seem like you have full power steering at the steering wheel? Are all of your lines ok. no pinches, tight turns, collapsed suction/return line? After all of that, I'd call the retailer and see what they say about getting a replacement as that one sounds defective, drive it over to let them listen to it. Good luck

[wiswind]

Your Windstar needs ATF, not "power steering" fluid.
Older windstars call for a Type F ATF, which is a older spec than the Mercon.
Newer windstars call for Mercon.
My guess would be that your '98 calls for 'mercon' ATF.
I would suspect that mercon would be fine for the Type F application, but have not seen anything from FORD saying so.
Mercon specification is now obsolete, and Mercon V is the replacement for that.

If you have the amber or clear power steering fluid in there, I would flush it out, as you mention you did when you put it in there, and use the Mercon or Mercon V ATF.
Mobil 1 is a good synthetic ATF, and is easy to find.

[LTDzak]

It is possible that you entrained air in the fluid with the new pump. Try cycling the rack back with the front on jackstands, wheels off the groundm first with engine off then with engine on. The factory manual has a proceedure for deairing, think it might use one of those hand vacuum pumps.

Hope this helps - mine has been whining, but I think its just the fried tie rod ends.

LTDzak

[katman96]

I am trying to track down a factory shop manual, but in the meantime is there anyone out there that could post the factory procedure for gettting all the air out of the power steering system? This thing is driving me nuts....Thanks

[wiswind]

From reading your first post.....turning the steering wheel from limit to limit (not resting on the limit) with the wheels up off the ground, is what they say in the shop manual for my '96.

Now, after doing this, look in the resevoir and see if there are bubbles in the fluid.
If there are.....wait a while for them to rise to the top.
Then repeat.
The reason for this.....if there are bubbles suspended in the fluid.....then they will just be recirculated if you don't wait for them to rise to the top.
This is more of an issue with cold fluid.